ACI 2014: Stability, slow growth, ahead for soaps

“Cautious optimism” was the phrase buzzing through the halls of the Grande Lakes Orlando this week at ACI's annual meeting and conference. Soapers and home care chemical makers mostly expect a solid, but slow-growing, 2014 as the global economy continues to tick upward gradually. On the flip side, innovative new products such as unit-dose laundry detergents are adding to growth, while raw material costs are expected to remain manageable. “The mood is cautious optimism,” says Neil Carr, business president/functional materials at Dow...